Winter is an exciting time in the world of houseplants. With the yard put to bed, the indoor garden keeps us busy with essential winter care. One of the greatest surprises of the season for me is when an orchid puts out new flower spikes, preparing to develop flower buds for blooming in spring. As soon as you spot them, you should think about training them.
Orchid care can be very particular but once mastered, these exotic indoor flowering plants will have a routine flowering cycle, often starting in winter. This might be surprising, as the majority of houseplants enter dormancy at this time of year. However, the colder room temperatures can trigger moth orchid preparation for spring.
I've been growing orchids for a few years now and mine are all starting to grow new flower spikes. Instead of waiting to train them, I'm jumping on this essential task now. Failing to do so can result in shorter flower spikes, less impressive blooms, and even stem damage. Luckily, it's really easy to train new orchid flower spikes – here's how to do it.
How To Train New Orchid Flower Spikes
It would be a mistake to not train new orchid flower spikes. Allowing them to grow too long without support will result in horizontal, shorter stems, rather than long vertical stems.
Plus, unsupported flower spikes may snap with the weight of flowerheads. For this reason, I always use the following method to train new orchid flower spikes soon after they emerge:
How to Train New Orchid Flower Spikes
When new orchid flower spikes emerge, you may first mistake them for aerial roots. But, they grow very quickly and will soon reveal themselves as slender green stems.
These spikes are very flexible when young, making it an ideal time to train them up an orchid plant stake (like this from Amazon), so long as they're long enough to start directing upwards.
When you purchase a moth orchid (like this purple orchid from The Sill), they will likely already have a stake for each flower stem. I tend to reuse these in each flowering cycle, but I also have to add more as my orchid grows bigger and multiplies its flower spikes each year. It's generally best to give each flower spike its own stake.
Insert your stakes carefully in your orchid pot alongside the emerging flower spikes. If you're using the right orchid potting mix (i.e. a loose orchid bark mix from Amazon or even a DIY orchid potting mix) this should slot in easily. Just make sure to proceed carefully as to not cut through any roots.
I then test if the stake is in the right spot by holding the orchid stem upwards and seeing if it sits happily against it or if it is trying to pull away. For the latter, adjust the position of the stake as necessary.
You can then gently attach the stem to the stake by using orchid clips (from Amazon) or soft plant ties (like these twist ties from Walmart). Make sure the ties are not cutting into the stem, but rather loosely holding them in place.
And it's as simple as that. Bear in mind, you may need to make some adjustments as the stem grows taller. Take care not to attach the top few inches of the stem to the stake, as this is where flower buds will develop and need to be free from the support to create the classic, elegant curved shape when flowering.
At the end of the flowering cycle, your orchid stem will turn yellow. Simply cut this off at the base and repeat this method to train new orchid spikes when they appear once again.
This set of orchid stakes and clips can support up to 10 orchid stems. The 16-inch stakes are flexible, so you can bend them to the contour of your orchid stems if needed.
These cute flower clips can be used to train orchid stems. It comes in a pack of 100, keeping you supplied for years to come.
These orchid plant stakes measure 16 inches and have a curved head to offer additional support for heavy flowerheads.
FAQs
Can My Orchid Flower Without a Stake?
Yes, orchids will still flower without being staked, but the display may be short-lived. This is because the flower spike may struggle to hold up the weight of the flowerheads and can snap. Likewise, lower down, the flowers won't be receiving as much sunlight, which can shorten their lifespan.
Once your orchid has finished flowering, don't throw it out. There are several things you can do to get an orchid to bloom again.
Shop Essential Orchid Accessories
This gorgeous blue ceramic pot is designed for orchids. The cut-outs allow for aerial roots to peak through and put on a beautiful display. It also has a drainage hole and saucer to remove excess water.
Orchids love humidity, so use this glass plant mister to give it a regular spritz. In between use, display it on a shelf or coffee table.
Insert these orchid food spikes into your orchid's pot for a slow release of fertilizer for up to 2 months. They're specially formulated to provide the essential plant nutrients these exotic blooms need.
